{"id":1258,"date":"2019-09-30T09:31:04","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T09:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.skolera.com\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2025-10-20T09:04:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T09:04:12","slug":"leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to School 101: Leave a Bigger Footprint"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What better way to start the year off than by tackling off some of the best extracurricular back to school activities to motivate students, lift their sense of self-worth, and boost their positivity?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Both teachers and students are still in need of <a href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/5-fun-icebreaking-back-to-school-activities\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\">extracurricular activities <\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to<\/span> <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">lighten up school schedules and school work.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is our turn now. Let us leave a bigger footprint in our young learners&#8217; life to have a better future. Allow them to feel effective in their own classroom and even society. Give them confidence that what they say and do matter in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">One of the greatest<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> teaching strategies<\/span><\/a><\/span> we could utilize in class is giving students the keys to change the world itself, in their own way and pace though.<\/span><\/p>\n<a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-request-a-free-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3HYWNcY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class='mb-text'>Get started Skolera for FREE<\/span><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1801 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.skolera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/6677-1.jpg\" alt=\"Back to school activities: Skolera\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/6677-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/6677-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\r\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\r\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d41b0ece772\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d41b0ece772\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/#1_Back_to_School_Paperless_Classroom\" >1. Back to School: Paperless Classroom<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/#11_Teaching_Strategies_What_We_Can_Do\" >1.1. Teaching Strategies: What We Can Do<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/#2_Make_2019_Back_to_School_Different\" >2. Make 2019 Back to School Different<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/#21_So_What_Are_the_17_Goals\" >2.1. So What Are the 17 Goals?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/leave-a-bigger-footprint-back-to-school-101\/#3_Back_to_School_in_a_Different_Way\" >3. Back to School in a Different Way<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Back_to_School_Paperless_Classroom\"><\/span><strong>1. Back to School: Paperless Classroom<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Influencing students to believe that they could have a footprint in the world, a green one, that is, is the first way to go. Instilling a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment into young learners can go a long way in developing their pride and self-worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A case study in 2014 on secondary school students, Bal\u0131kesir city, suggested that schools teachings of environmental awareness are insufficient. Case studies are sometimes arguably bias, since they can&#8217;t cover wider population. However, they, on many occasions, ring a bell out to alert us to a certain issue to be tackled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">One of the biggest contributors of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are deforestation and desertification\u2014caused by human activities. A great factor contributing to this is paper use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1802 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.skolera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/94-1.jpg\" alt=\"Paperless class: Back to school\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/94-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/94-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Moreover, it is estimated that over <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nature14967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15 billion trees<\/a><\/span><\/span> are cut down every year. And <span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edutopia.org\/paperless-classroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according to the Environmental Protection Agency<\/a><\/span> a ton of paper waste equals 15-17 mature trees. Each student uses approximately 1000 sheets of papers. So if schools can go paperless we will be saving thousands of much needed trees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>If you haven&#8217;t tried <a href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Skolera LMS for free<\/span><\/a> yet, register from <\/strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/school-management-system-demo\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/span><strong>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-request-a-free-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3HYWNcY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class='mb-text'>Join Skolera Now for FREE<\/span><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Teaching_Strategies_What_We_Can_Do\"><\/span><strong>1.1. Teaching Strategies: What We Can Do<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">First: Let your students take the initiative and start going paperless in classroom. This will give them the sense of ownership and responsibility they need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Second: Start the school year with making your students aware of the above deforestation facts by using videos, movies, or listening exercises. Brainstorm ideas, discuss solutions, develop them, and ask students how they can be applied.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Third: Integrating technology in schools is the best way to go paperless. Many schools around the world have already gone paperless. It is quite doable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Skolera <\/span>is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">best learning management system<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/free-educational-apps-for-students\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\">applications<\/span><\/span><\/a> in the world. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/school-management-system-demo\">Skolera<\/a><\/span> has designed a feature called \u2018zones\u2019 through which students, teachers, and parents can take part in extracurricular activities: &#8216;zones button.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Skolera Presentation\" width=\"618\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H3zlHCocCj4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/skolera.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Moreover, it also allows teachers to engage with their students in paperless school and extracurricular activities. One of its features is virtual assignments, classworks, quizzes, behavior notes, gradebook, to-do lists, schedules, and personal files.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Make_2019_Back_to_School_Different\"><\/span><strong>2. Make 2019 Back to School Different<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Using less papers is only one solution to many goals set by the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UN Sustainable Development<\/a><\/span><\/span> to change the world. It is our responsibility to educate new generations about these goals. Fostering a sense of ownership towards our climate and environment in students promotes a more responsible behavior on the long term.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"21_So_What_Are_the_17_Goals\"><\/span><strong>2.1. So What Are the 17 Goals?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The goals are as follows: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships.<\/span><\/p>\n<a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-request-a-free-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3HYWNcY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class='mb-text'>Book FREE Live Demo Now<\/span><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5  Breathe Life: I Recycle My Waste\" width=\"618\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mdl_fbb29Vk?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/skolera.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">How do we introduce at least some of these goals into our students\u2019 minds?<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Set a reward system by choosing classroom stars. For example, the student most interested in reducing electricity consumption is chosen and titled &#8216;energy star.&#8217; He\/she sets their own to-do list. He\/she brainstorms what they can do, with the teacher&#8217;s guidance to confirm their safety at all times.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Establish environmental clubs and committees, for example, \u201cGreen Committee.\u201d The committee may hang posters on the classroom walls and school to spread awareness among other students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Hold recycling and planting contests among students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ask your students to take a record how much water is consumed daily: even though the number would not be accurate, but remember that the point of this student activity is only to build the student\u2019s awareness and sense of responsibility.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Share stories of successful leaders that made difference in the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Back_to_School_in_a_Different_Way\"><\/span><strong>3. Back to School in a Different Way<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The world has witnessed in the last week unprecedented students protests in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2019\/sep\/21\/across-the-globe-millions-join-biggest-climate-protest-ever\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>185\u00a0<\/strong>countries<\/a> against climate change policies. Thousands of students across the globe joined the series of international protests occurred especially in the greenhouse gas biggest contributors: China, the US, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WATCH: Greta Thunberg&#039;s full speech to world leaders at UN Climate Action Summit\" width=\"618\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KAJsdgTPJpU?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/skolera.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Instead of choosing to go back to school, these students have opted to stand up for environment and reach out to the United Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This is proof that the world is changing and it is only natural that new generations change with it. They are looking forward to take matters into their own hands, have their voices heard, and change the world into a better place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Finally, these new generations are the balance that the world needs right now. But they can&#8217;t do it without our guidance. Helen Keller reportedly said &#8220;Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is our turn now to help students find their place in the world. Introducing environmental education into class lets students see the positive footprints they can make not only in school but also in their society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>To follow up on the newest trends in education and learning management systems, check our blog on a regular basis. You can also know more about how to help your school through Skolera through\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/school-management-system-demo\">our website<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-request-a-free-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3HYWNcY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class='mb-text'>Create Free Account<\/span><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Environmental Awareness Level of Secondary School Students: A Case Study in Bal\u0131kesir (T\u00fcrkiye), Ahmet Altin, Selcen Tecer, Lokman Tecer, and Sureyya Altin, Procedia &#8211; Social and Behavioral Sciences, Publisher: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/catalog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elsevier<\/a>, 2014.<\/li>\n<li>Unesco-UNEP International Environmental Education Programme, Environmental Education Series 9, Division of Science, Technical and Environmental Education, 1985.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What better way to start the year off than by tackling off some of the best extracurricular back to school activities to motivate students, lift their sense of self-worth, and boost their positivity? Both teachers and students are still in need of extracurricular activities to lighten up school schedules and school work. It is our &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":1801,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,268,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-uncategorized","category-professional-development","category-teaching-strategies"],"modified_by":"Abdulrahman Ashraf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3752,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions\/3752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skolera.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}